[GreyScales]

I noticed that one of my indoor anaheim chilli plants that I'm planning to overwinter was looking washed out, which I assumed was down to it being the end of the season and light levels reducing. The other plants looked fine, but I thought it was just this plant showing signs first.

But over time I started noticing webbing... and little orangey things. Only when looking very close did I see these things had the tiniest legs and the plant was covered in them. I also noticed they were spreading to a near by chilli plant as well...

One of my parents rather rashly decided to spray the plant with standard household bug spray, which I wasn't happy about because up until that point they were chemical spray free. Not that it seemed to have any affect on them.

I'd very much like to remove them and would appreciate any advice. This is the first time I'm overwintering chilli plants, so I'd like to save it if possible. Assuming the bug spray didn't finish it off...

[Totty]

Sounds like red spider mite. It is an awful pest, especially on cucumbers.
They hate damp, humid conditions, and it may be necessary to blast the leaves all over with water.
Organic sprays have unreliable effects on really established infestations.

Totty

[GreyScales]

Wet a paper kitchen towel and gently give it a good going over?

[Totty]

To initially remove as much as you can that would be good. Soapy water could help.

Totty

[GreyScales]

Ok I'll give that a go tomorrow, hopefully taking off most of the bug spray residue in the process 

Going to get some strange looks when they see me washing the plant.

[Dr_Pepper]

I would be tempted just to throw the plant away as red spider is very tricky to control with the chemicals available to you. That said, if you are overwintering indoors, the temperature may be high enough to try a bit of biological control. Commercial pepper growers generally dont use chemicals to control RSM, they use this predatory mite:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spider-Mite-Killer-Standard-Pack/dp/B003U40M0G/ref=sr_1_4/280-0652604-2415451?ie=UTF8&qid=1383214033&sr=8-4&keywords=spider+mite+control

Natural pest control sprays may contain pyrethrins, which are widely considered to increase red spider mite reproduction rates for some reason.

[Totty]

If you have wiped off all the mites and they still look ropey, just cut the plant back. Commercial growers, may use a nematode in winter, but only in a heated and lit environment. For the sake of overwintering one or two plants, biological control would be hugely cost in-effective.
 Cutting the plant back will remove the mite problem, so long as the stems are clean.
Google "pruning overwintering chillies" for in depth info on this.

Totty

[GreyScales]

Thank you for the advice. I gave the plant a good wipe down with soapy water, as well as a jalapeno plant that was sadly too close to the affected anaheim. Making sure to remove any webbing and mites I could see. I've put the plants in isolation to stop it spreading to any others and will repeat if I see any more. Really want to save these plants so will cut down as a last resort.

[Totty]

They will most likely go dormant and lose the leaves anyway. After cutting back, the new growth next spring will be vigorous if they make it through.

Totty

[surbie100]

Did it work Greyscales?

My lovely chillies are starting to drown in aphids and mites. It's going to take hours to wipe them all down.   :blink:

[GreyScales]

Work being subjective  they're looking better as in not crawling with mites, but I still inspect them daily and sadly I'm still wiping mites off as I find them.